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Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has called for the regulation of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics. He made this appeal during the 2022/2023 Convocation Ceremony of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies – University of Benin (NILDS-UNIBEN) in Abuja on Monday.
Speaker Abbas expressed his readiness to sponsor a bill aimed at regulating these emerging technologies and emphasized the importance of establishing a regulatory framework for them in the country. While acknowledging the numerous benefits of technologies like AI and robotics, he also stressed the need to prevent their misuse and abuse.
He noted that despite the challenges faced by the education sector in Nigeria, including issues like low enrollment, particularly in rural areas, and outdated curricula, technology could play a transformative role. However, Speaker Abbas highlighted the risks associated with AI, such as the potential to deepen inequalities, reinforce biases, and automate routine tasks that could lead to job displacement.
To address these opportunities and challenges, Speaker Abbas announced that the 10th House of Representatives would engage with experts and stakeholders on AI and related issues. The goal is to leverage the potential of these technologies while addressing concerns related to privacy, accountability, ethics, security, and intellectual property.
In addition, the Speaker pledged to introduce a bill to regulate Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria, emphasizing that it would be one of the first such efforts in Africa and one of the few worldwide. This proposed legislation aims to ensure better conditions for the development and use of AI in the country, marking a significant step toward the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in Nigeria.
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